A Southwest Airlines flight landing at the Los Angeles International Airport reported a close call with a small drone as it prepared to land.

"Hey, there was just one of those radio-controlled helicopter things that went right over the top of us at 4,000," the pilot said after the near-miss. "One of those remotely piloted deals... [a] little bitty one, red in color."

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is increasingly concerned that private drone operators aren't respecting airspace around commercial and private airports. There have been a growing number of incidents that pose significant danger to aircraft, and the problem is likely to get worse before it gets better, air safety experts warn.

"The thing that we have to avoid is any opportunity for aircraft to come into contact with one another because that is an extremely dangerous situation for everyone involved," said Michael Huerta, administrator for the FAA.

Pilots are reporting more incidents with drones, and the FAA wants drone manufacturers to find ways to ensure their drones don't intrude on restricted areas.